Sheet-metal top burner for gas cookstoves



Jan. 23, 1951 H. M. REEVES 2,539,101

I SHEET METAL TOP BURNER FOR GAS COOKSTOVES Filed May 3, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam 23, 1951 H. M. REEVES ,1

SHEET METAL TOP BURNER FOR GASECOOKSTOVES Filed May 5, 1946 5 Sheets-55am 2 i EVEN TOM Werbewk mQeevea 4 EWJ M 44.

TTOQNEXJ H. M. REEVES SHEET METAL TOP BURNER FOR GAS COOKSTOVES Jan 23 1951 I 5 M ZN 1 V b Q a h H m m c T 9 mm w n N b y m 4 27 8 mk mmww y k E w um. oM mw awry-T y m w m Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET-METAL TOP BURNER FOR GAS COOKSTOVES Application May 3, 1946, Serial No. 667,211

5 Claims.

The invention relates to top burners for gas cookstoves and has special reference to a burner assembly for gas cookstoves including front and rear burners constructed entirely of sheet metal.

One object is to provide a front top burner having a relatively short mixing tube with a burner head offset vertically and laterally therefrom so as to overlie the mixing tube of the companion rear burner and having the parts con structed and arranged so that the entire burner may be produced cheaply by die forming or stamping operations and capable of being assembled in a simple, practical manner.

A further object is to provide an improved burner head construction for sheet metal top burners which insures a smooth even flow of gas to the burner ports and enables the burner to produce a uniform stable flame under all operating conditions.

Another object is to provide a simple and advantageous support for the front burner on the mixing tube of the rear burner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment'illustrated in the accompanying drawings in'which:

Figure l is a top view of a burner assembly including associated front and rear top burners embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of theburner assembly shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away to show the internal construction of the burner bodies and heads.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the front burner head taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional'view of the front burner taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the front burner unit.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the front burner taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the front burner supporting bracket.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the burner assembly taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the rear burner head taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 9-4; of Fig. 8.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are transverse sectional views of the rear burner mixing tube taken respectively 2 in vertical planes substantially on the lines l0-l 0, H--Il and l2-I2 of Fig. 8.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

By Way of illustration the improved burner construction has been exemplified in a cooking top burner assembly comprising a front burner unit IE! and a rear burner unit ll adapted for installation in the cooking top of a conventional gas cookstove. The burner units are adapted to receive a supply of gaseous fuel from a common manifold l2 at the front of the cooking top. Valves l3 individual to the respective burner units are spaced apart longitudinally of the manifold 12 in the usual way to provide for controlling the supply of gas to the burners.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the front burner unit It includes a burner head I4 with a mixing tube l5 extending forwardly to the manifold. The rear burner unit II includes a similarly shaped burner head [6 with a substantially longer mixing tube ll extending forwardly to the manifold. In the exemplary burner assembly, the burner heads l4 and I6 are arranged in a common plane and alined substantially on the axis of the rear burner tube I! which is arranged to extend forwardly from the head without lateral bends. To obtain such alinement, the head [4 of the front burner unit is oifset vertically and laterally with respect to the mixing tube l5 so that the head overlies the rear burner mixing tube I! while the two mixing tubes are disposed in parallel relation. As shown in Fig. 2, the forward end section of the mixing tube l! is oifset downwardly from the head portion of the burner unit for the accommodation of the front burner head 14. j

The production of a sheet metal front burner of the type above described has been considered impractical heretofore because of the offset relation of the head and mixing tube portions coupled with the shortness of the latter. The problems presented by this construction have been solved by the present invention which provides head and mixing tube portions shaped and interrelated in a, novel manner to permit the burner body. .tobe made in two parts adapted to be assembled in superimposed relation. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 6, the body of the front burner IE1 is made up of upper and lower sheet metal members arranged in superimposed relation and respectively having mixing tube portions 28 and 2| (Fig. 5 generally circular head portions 22 and 23, and connecting web portions 34 and 38. The tube forming portions and 2E are formed with longitudinal depressions or channels 24 and 25 respectively bordered by laterally projecting fiat fins 26 and 2?. When the members are assembled in superimposed relation the mating depressions 24 and 25 define a straight mixing passage 28 of circular cross section and of the familiar Venturi shape.

The upper head portion 22 comprises an upstanding annular wall drawn from the upper member and cooperating with the head portion 23 of the lower member to form a cup-shaped burner bowl. The head portion of the lower member is preferably shaped to form a shallow annular channel 3i, and the upstanding wall of the upper head portion is bent inwardy to form an upwardly facing shoulder portion and then downwardly to provide a depending generally cylindrical inner wall 32 of substantial length extending toward but terminating short of the lower head portion 23.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the rear end portion of the mixing passage 28 is disposed closely tangent to the burner bowl. In shaping the lower burner member, the stock intermediate the head portion and the mixing tube portion is formed to provide a web portion 34 extending laterally and somewhat rearwardly and also sloping gently upward from the tube portion. Adjacent the rear end of the member, the web portion 34 is formed with a depression or recess 35 forming a continuation of the channel 28 and opening into the channel 3i as shown in Fig. 4.

The upper member of the burner is likewise formed to provide a laterally and rearwardly extending web portion 36 also sloping upwardly in face-to-face engagement with the web portion 34 and in overlying relation to the recess 35. The two web portions 34 and 36 thus coact to form a web of double thickness (Fig. 6) connecting the tube and head portions. As best seen in Fig. 1 the two web portions 34 and 35 are bent upwardly from the mixing tube portions 20 and 21 along a line diagonally intersecting the mixing tube passage 28. This construction is important in that it permits the use of a gently sloping web, advantageous in the stamping operation, without unduly increasing the over-all width of the burner.

Referring to Figs 1 and 6 of the drawings, it will be observed that the fins 25 and 21 provided on the mixing tube portions 20 and 21 of the burner members are extended around the head forming portions of the burners. In other words, each member is provided with a peripheral edge portion in the form of a continuous fiat fin, one of which is of sufficient width to permit of its being crimped over the companion fin to seam the parts together. It will also be observed that the fins are of substantial width particularly adjacent the junction between the mixing tube and head at which point they are shaped so as to avoid sharp or reentrant bends and thus greatly facilitate the seaming operation. To this end the fins at the lower side of the mixing tube (as viewed in Fig. 1) are extended in a straight line to a point substantially in line with the axis of the burner head and then extended on a radius of relatively large diameter to merge with the head forming portion of the burner member. At the opposite side of the head, the fins are cut on substantially the same large radius, thus leaving a triangular web 39 which, in the forming operation, is given a gradually upwardly sweeping curve that permits the parts to be seamed together without difficulty.

For connection with the manifold l2, the tube forming portions 26 and 2| of the burner members are terminated at their forward ends in enlarged portions 40 and 41 which are shaped to form a generally rectangular primary air and gas inlet chamber 42. This chamber is provided with a front opening 43 for the reception of a nipple 44 threaded on the valve l3. Primary air is admitted to the chamber on both sides of the stream of entering gas through openings 45 in the upper and lower wals of the chamber and under control of an adjustable shutter 46.

Cooperating with the head forming portions 22 and 23 of the burner body to form burner ports with a passage connecting such ports and the distribution chamber 33 is a sheet metal member or cap of generally cup-shaped form. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the member 50 has an upright cylindrical body 5! with an outwardly and downwardly turned flange or lip 52 at its upper end and an inwardly turned flange 53 at its lower end. The body member 5| is dimensioned so that it may be inserted within the wall 32 of the burner head to bring the lower edge of the lip 52 into engagement with the upwardly facing shoulder 35 so as to define therewith an annular channel having a circumferential series of closely spaced outlet ports 54. Preferably, these ports are in the form of uniformly spaced notches 54 in the marginal edge of the lip as shown in the drawings or may simply comprise holes drilled through the lip.

Formed on the inturned flange 53 of the member 50 is an axial centrally apertured extension 55 of reduced diameter adapted to fit within the opening in the bottom member 23 of the burner head. The cap thus coacts with the burner head to form an annular distribution chamber 33. The main portion of the cap member 50 is of somewhat smaller diameter than the wall 32 and cooperates therewith to define a vertically elongated radially narrow annuar passage 56 opening at its lower end into the distribution chamber 33 for conducting a flow of gas therefrom to the annular channel with its outlet ports 5 Due to the substantial length of the passage 55 as compared to its cross sectional area, the fuel and air mixture is delivered to the ports in a smooth even flow, thus enabling the burner to produce a uniform stable flame under all operating conditions.

Provision is made for accurately .locating the port forming member 58 in the head structure so as to insure a uniform cross sectional area for the passage 56. The lower portion 55 of the cap fits snugly into the opening formed centrally of the lower head portion 23 and thus serves to hold this portion of the cap in properly centered position in the burner bowl. Additionally, the cylindrical wall 32 of the upper member is formed with inwardly projecting positioning elements for engagement with the body portion 5| of the cap, these elements being, herein shown as depending inwardly bent lugs 51, engageable with the body of the member 50 when the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 3.

5. In the exemplary burner, four such lugs are uniformly spaced apart around the circumference of the wall 32. Preferably the lugs are relatively narrow and disposed below the wall 32 so as to present a minimum restriction to the flow of fuel from the distribution chamber 33 to the passage In the preferred embodiment the lugs 51 are additionally utilized in securing the cap to the body of the burner head with the flange or lip 54 of the cap held flat against the upwardly facing shoulder 30. Thus as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower ends of the lugs coact with outwardly projecting beads 58 formed in the body 5! of the cap to lock the parts in assembled relation. Preferably the beads 58 are inclined so as to present a locking surface disposed at an angle to the axis of the member whereby engagement or disengagement of the locking parts may be effected by rotation of the member through a small angle.

As in the case of the front burner unit above described, the rear burner unit II is also formed in two parts adapted to be assembled in superimposed relation. Referring to Figs. 1, 8 and 9 of the drawings, the body of the rear burner comprises upper and lower sheet metal members each including elongated strips 50 and 6! formed with longitudinal complemental depressions 62 and 63 (Figs. 10 and 11) respectively bordered by laterally projecting flat fins 64 and 65. When the members are assembled in superimposed relation the mating depressions define a mixing passage 65 of the usual Venturi shape for delivering a mixture of gaseous fuel and air to the burner head. Gaseous fuel and primary air are supplied to the mixing passage 66 from a generally rectangular gas and air inlet chamber 61 similar to the chamber 42 hereinbefore described and formed by enlargements 68 and 69 integral with the strips 60 and GI. Air is admitted to the chamber 65 through openings 10 in the top and bottom walls of the chamber under control of an adjustable shutter 1|.

In the exemplary burner assembly the rear burner head is supported and located in a predetermined position in the cooking top by a horizontally disposed member 90 suitably mounted on the framework of the stove. The supporting member is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with one or more upwardly pressed nibs 9| upon which a flange 92 formed in the lower end of the burner memberrflZ is adapted to rest. The supporting member also formed with an opening registering with the opening in the bottom of the member'SZ through which secondary air is supplied to. the burner. An upstanding flange 93 encircling the burner in the supporting member and projecting into the opening in the burner memberserves to position the latter and to prevent lateral displacement in use.

Provision is made for sup-porting the front burner unit on the mixin tube H of the rear burner unit, thus making it unnecessary to provide auxiliary sup-porting means in the stove structure. To this end I provide a sheet metal bracket 95 (Figs. 3, 7 and 8) having an upright portion 96 with a recess 5'5 in its lower edge dimensioned to clear the ridge forming the depression 62 in the burner member and providing spaced bearing surfaces 2'38 adapted to reston the projecting fins 6 5 of the member. At one side, the upright portion of the bracket is extended downwardly to engage in a notch 99 (Figs.

'1 and 2) in the fin 64 and is formed to provide a hook-like projection I05 adapted to engage under the fin to hold the parts in assembled relation. The upper edge of the bracket is bent over into a horizontal flange if forming a rest for the lower member 23 of the burner head, the flange being rounded at its outer edge 102 so as to clear the lower end of the burner member At their rear ends the strips and 6| termi- 4 nate in generally circular head forming portions 12 and E3 coacting with a cap member 82 to form an annular distribution chamber 11. As in the previous construction, the head has a cylindrical inner wall 16 extending toward but terminating short of the lower body member. The fins 64 and are extended around the head forming portions of the burner and provide means by which the parts may be seamed together as described above in connection with the front burner. When the burner members are assembled as shown, the annular chamber 71 communicates with the mixing passage by way of a vertically restricted throat 18 (Fig. 8) formed by a depression 79 in the upper burner body member 60.

The burner cap 82 coacts with the upper burner member 72 to provide an annular channel having burner ports 80 and communicating with a radially narrow annular passage 8| opening at its lower end into the distribution chamber H. The cap comprises a cylindrical member 82 similar to the member 50 heretofore described and having a cylindrical body 83 with an outwardly and downwardly turned notched lip 84 at its upper end cooperating with the upper burner member to form the ports 80. The cylindrical body 83 is secured to the cylindrical Wall 76 of the upper member by lugs 85 coacting with outwardly pressed inclined beads 86 to lock the parts together.

50. Preferably the marginal edge portion of the member 23 around the central opening therein is recessed as at 103 to receive the flange Nil. Accordingly, the supporting member is enabled to maintain the front burner member properly positioned in the burner assembly in addition to supporting it. v

To provide clearance for the'lower part of the front burner head I!) the forward section of the mixing tube ll of the rear burner is located .in a plane offset downwardly from the rear section and the associated burner head as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. Moreover, a short section of the crimped fins 64 and 65 may be bent down as indicated at 50 3 (Figs. 1 and 11). One such depressed section is provided at each side of the burner mixing tube to accommodate either left hand or right hand mounting of the front burner.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a novel and improved front top burner construction which reduces production costs substantially and yet provides a front burner which is as attractive in appearance and as efficient in operation as the cast metal burners heretofore in general use. The improved front burner is adapted to interfit with the rear burner for installation in conventional gas stove structures without necessitating any changes or modifications of the stove structure. By reason of its novel configuration, the front burner may be constructed of two simple, relatively inexpensive sheet metal stampings capable of being produced with inexpensive forming dies. Thus the number of such parts required is reduced to a minimum and assembly is greatly facilitated with a corresponding reduction in the cost of manufacture.

The novel burner head construction utilized in the improved burner gives it exceptionally good operating characteristics. Thoroughly mixed gaseous fuel and primary air are delivered to the burner ports in a smooth even fiow which enables the burner to produce a uniform stable flame under all operating conditions.

I claim as my invention:

1. A top burner for gas cookstoves comprising, in combinationa pair of sheet metal body members assembled in superimposed relation and having registering generally circular openings, a cylindrical member disposed in said openings, said body members bein complementally shaped to define an elongated gas and air mixing passage and in cooperation with said cylindrical member to form an annular distribution chamber communicating with said passage, a depending cylindrical wall formed on the inner marginal edge portion of the upper body member encircling said cylindrical member and cooperating with it to define an annular outlet passage for said chamber, and means including an outwardly turned lip and outwardly projecting beads on said cylindrical member cooperating respectively with the top surface of the upper body member and with the lower end of said wall for locking said cylindrical member in place in the burner structure.

2. A top burner for gas COOlbtOVES comprising, in combination, a pair of sheet metal body members assembled in superimposed relation and having registering generally circular openings, a cylindrical member disposed in said openings, said body members being complementally shaped to define an elongated gas and air mixing passage and in cooperation with said cylindrical member to form an annular distribution chamber communicating with said passage, a depending cylindrical wall formed on the inner marginal edge portion of the upper body member encircling said cylindrical member and cooperating with it to define an annular outlet passage for said chamber, an outwardly and downwardly turned lip formed on the upper end of said cylindrical member, and outwardly projecting beads on said cylindrical member cooperating with said wall to clamp said lip against the top surface of the upper body member, said lip having a plurality of openings formin burner ports c mmunicatlng with said outlet passage.

3. A top burner for gas oookstoves comprising, in combination, a pair of sheet metal burner members assembled in superimposed relation and having registering general y circular openings, a cylindrical member disposed in said openings and cooperating with said body members to define an annular distribution chamber, said body members being formed to provide an inlet passage for supplying a mixture of gaseous fuel and primary air to said chamber, 2, depending cylindrical extension on said upper body member forming a part of the inner wall of said chamber, said cylindrical member having a body dimensioned to fit within said extension to complete the inner wall of said chamber and to define therewith an annular outlet passage for said chamber, means including an outwardly turned lip on the upper end of said cylindrical member and abutment means on the member spaced from said lip cooperating respectively with the upper body member and said extension for locking said cylindrical memher in place in the burner structure, the body of said cylindrical member having a lower end portion of reduced diameter adapted to fit loosely 1n and project through the opening in the lower body :member for cooperation with the burner supporting means, said lip extending outwardly over said passage and downwardly to engage the top surface of the upper body member so as to determine the extent of the projection of said end portion through said opening, said lip having a series of notches in its depending edge portion constituting burner ports communicating with said out et passage.

4. A gaseous fuel burner comprising a bottom member of sheet metal having a central hole therein and a peripheral edge portion, an upper member also made of sheet metal and comprising a peripheral edge portion and an integral upstanding annular side wall hving an upper inwardly extending upwardly facing shoulder portion and an inner cylindrical wall depending from said shou.der portion, said peripheral edge portions of the two members being secured together to form a cup-shaped burner head with the hole in the bottom member concentric with .said depending cylindrical wall, a burner cap of thin sheet metal having at its lower end an annular portion fitting in said hole in the bottom member and at its upper end a cylindrical side wall or" substantial vertical depth and of a diameter only slightly less than the diameter of said depending cylindrical wall of the head, said cap coacting with the burner head to form a lower gas distribution chamber, a flange on the upper end of said cylindrical side wall of the cap turned outwardly and then downwardly for engagement with the upwardly facing shoulder of the head and coacting therewith to form an upper annular channel, a circumferential series of closely spaced outlet ports formed in the flange of the cap above said shoulder, said cylindrical side wall of the cap being disposed in opposed closely spaced relation to the inner depending cylindrical wall of the head to define an annular radially narrow anti-flashback passage of substantial vertical depth connecting said distribution chamber with said upper annular channel, and interengaging elements on the respective cylindrical walls effective to hold said downturned portion of the fiange on the cap flat against said upwardly facing shoulder portion, said elements being positioned for interengagement adjacent the lower end of said annular passage.

5. A top burner for gas cookstoves comprising upper and lower sheet metal members arran ed in superimposed relation and having peripheral edge portions secured together, each of said members having a mixing tube portion, a generally circular head portion and a connecting web portion sloping gently upward in a direction laterally and rearwardy of the mixing tube portion, the head portion of the upper member having drawn therefrom an upstanding annular wall cooperating with the head portion of the lower member to form a cup-shaped bowl, and a burner cap mounted centrally of the bowl and forming therewith a lower annular distribution chamber and an upper annular outlet passage, the upper and lower members being shaped to form opposed semicircular channels providing a straight gas supply passage of circular cross section extending longitudinalFy of the mixing tube portion with the rear portion of thechannel in the upper member disposed tangentially of the burner bowl and terminating at its rear end in the web portion of the upper member, and the web portion of the lower member having a recess therein underlying the rear end of the channel in the upper member and forming, in the lower mem- 9 ber, a continuation of the channel, said recess opening laterally into said distribution chamber, and said web portions being bent upwardly from the tube portions along a line diagonally intersecting said passage.

HERBERT M. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Willson July 13, 1909 Hoffman Apr. 1, 1924 Hagemen Feb. 2, 1932 Dollin et a1 Feb. 6, 1934 Morgan Dec. 31, 1935 Harper Oct. 2, 1945 Mills Mar. 19, 1946 

